PROBABLY SMARTER

Brad A. PierceCHICAGO TRIBUNE

In the Observer column of Dec. 22, Beatrice Shapiro discussed NASA`s search for extraterrestrial intelligence, especially for those civilizations already capable of interstellar travel. She questioned the assumption that they would be ''smarter and nicer'' than humans.

Now I don`t know much about UFOs, E.T.s and the rest, but I tend to agree with the scientists. After all, if these beings have survived long enough to colonize other planets, wouldn`t they almost have to be smarter and nicer than we are?